DON’T RISK IT!
Are YOU ok to drive safely . .?
MOTORISTS are being urged to ensure it is not only their cars that are fit to take to the road in the worse of the winter. The International Drivers Association is warning certain medical conditions can potentially compromise your ability to drive safely. Apart from the more obvious conditions like epilepsy and dangerous vision impairments, less commonly considered disorders could lead to you losing your licence.
Sleep disorders
These are not usually connected to driving ability. But consider the sleep disorder narcolepsy, a neurological condition resulting in an increased propensity for sudden, uncontrollable bouts of sleep. Imagine the potential disaster if such an episode occurs while driving.
Drivers Association expert Michael Bissona says: “A licence isn’t just about skill, it’s also about health. The law stipulates drivers must
report to the DVLA any health condition that may affect their ability to drive. Narcolepsy is clearly one such.”
Cognitive impairments
This is another broad category conditions that could impact driver licensing. Progressively eroding the mental faculties, dementia in its advanced stages significantly distorts reality perception, making safe driving virtually impossible.
Migraines
Another unexpected contender is the misery many of us may pass off as just a bad headache. Migraines’ debilitating effects, often characterised by visual aura (flashing or shimmering lights, blind spots), vertigo, disorientation, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound, can make driving a car effectively and safely an arduous task.
Bissona says: “Too often, people underestimate the driving implications of migraine attacks. A severe migraine isn’t just pain – it affects vision, concentration and reaction times.”
Meniere’s Disease
Quite possibly the first time you’ve heard of it, Meniere’s disease is definitely a niche area. An inner ear disorder that can throw off your balance, and cause episodes of vertigo and fluctuating hearing loss.
Bissona says: “Vertigo, dizziness, tinnitus… and the unpredictability of these symptoms make Meniere’s a notable concern when it comes to safe driving.”
The bottom line
From unexpected sleep disorders, cognitive impairments, migraines to Meniere’s, there are some less obvious health conditions that could get your licence revoked in the UK.
So the important takeaway here – should you find yourself managing any of these conditions, notifying the DVLA is not just a legal obligation but critical to road safety.